Hmm , doubles ?
What am I going to do with three 3lbs Swede's lol
What am I going to do with three 3lbs Swede's lol
Axe restoration thread
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Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
I like Swedish axes, wanna make a trade? Ha ha, what DON'T you have?
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Good chatting with you on the phone earlier today, I learned a lot! I don't like doubles, but I like patterns... there are a lot of patterns with specific uses that I don't need... or do I? Example: I have been looking for (not on eBay) a vintage Rafting Axe to add to my collection. Why do I need that? We don't float timber anymore... but they are so cool!
I don't know about you, but I know what I would do with three 33 D Swede's!
Used Wetterlings Swedish forest axe I found, wasn't easy these are kind a scarce. Someone burnt 1 inch increment hash marks on the spine. Sanded the handle a bit to clean it up and gave it a coating of blo & beeswax.
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Wonder what the reason for the marks is. Looks kinda cool an different. Nice axe by the way.
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Must of been a Dave Canterbury bushcraft fan. I think they did this for measuring the height of trees and other bushcraft duties.
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Nice looking Wetterlings!
Let's hope for the sake of both Bushcraft and woodcutting that the previous owner wasn't also a fan of Dave's bucking technique...
Awful, just awful...
Poor Norlund! Looks like a Norlund anyway not sure where the HB came from?
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
HB probably means Hudson Bay. Can't verify if it is a Norlund, but that definitely is a Hudson Bay pattern. Dave does like his Norlund axes, though...
I think those marks are for how many deer he killed with it
, Joe.
I took 2 minutes to look closer at the axe head I got from @dancan today. I'll posy photos when i have more time but for now, its a nice condition small axe head, just a few dinks from use which i'll clean up, and some surface rust which I'll remove. I'm settling on acid to clean it up and then a week or 2 in a tea stew to patina it. Decided on this as I hope to preserve the blue paint that remains here and there. Only markings I see are '700' on the underside of the poll, which I assume is the weigh in grams (not weighed it yet but it about that size), and 'H7' faintly on the top of the poll. if the markings mean anything to anyone, let me know please.
i guess 700g would be called a 'House axe', yes? what handle length for it? I'm thinking around 18"?
knocked the remains of the (original) handle out. Odd fitment! no split and no wedge, it was literally glued on! A 2-3mm thick layer of resin/epoxy! it must have started to loosen as someone had driven 2 nails in ... they don't make good wedges. i suspect a good fit with a normal wedge system AND a second cross wedged metal wedge or a round wedge should be achievable, but not with just a single wedge as feeling down inside the eye it tapers in quite a bit, then widens again, on the eyeside of the poll, hope that makes sense. So a single front/back split and wedge would lead to a hefty gap at the top of the handle by the poll, it'll need a second wedge to expand the back of the handle and tighten it.
So after a light touch up, head clean, patina and oil with blo, a new hard wood handle fitted by a standard front/back wedge and likely a round step wedge i have salvaged from a broken pickaroon handle, and a sharpen i hope it will be better than when new. handle finish will be blo, treatment before will depend on how it looks but i suspect it will be a light sand and i'd like to make it look old and used by blackening the grain if I can. I need to research that but i'm thinking something black and water based like ink wiped on and allowed to soak in, repeat a few times, then sand back to hopefully remove any darkening except where the grain has taken it deeply. Any tips on this very welcome!
i guess 700g would be called a 'House axe', yes? what handle length for it? I'm thinking around 18"?
knocked the remains of the (original) handle out. Odd fitment! no split and no wedge, it was literally glued on! A 2-3mm thick layer of resin/epoxy! it must have started to loosen as someone had driven 2 nails in ... they don't make good wedges. i suspect a good fit with a normal wedge system AND a second cross wedged metal wedge or a round wedge should be achievable, but not with just a single wedge as feeling down inside the eye it tapers in quite a bit, then widens again, on the eyeside of the poll, hope that makes sense. So a single front/back split and wedge would lead to a hefty gap at the top of the handle by the poll, it'll need a second wedge to expand the back of the handle and tighten it.
So after a light touch up, head clean, patina and oil with blo, a new hard wood handle fitted by a standard front/back wedge and likely a round step wedge i have salvaged from a broken pickaroon handle, and a sharpen i hope it will be better than when new. handle finish will be blo, treatment before will depend on how it looks but i suspect it will be a light sand and i'd like to make it look old and used by blackening the grain if I can. I need to research that but i'm thinking something black and water based like ink wiped on and allowed to soak in, repeat a few times, then sand back to hopefully remove any darkening except where the grain has taken it deeply. Any tips on this very welcome!
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Neil,
700 g would be either a very light axe or a hand hatchet. 40-45cm for the haft length would suffice, so long as you're keeping it as a small axe with handle leverage. 45cm or 18" might be about as long as it would need to be, but try a dry or a mock fit with some paper to get an idea of how it will look.
Acids like household vinegar will eat away a small later of metal, and like @svk mentioned once before, they are prone to surface rust very quickly and must be oiled right away as well as regularly. You can use a mild wire cup brush on your powered drill to remove surface rust. So long as you do not lean into it very hard it will preserve the patina and residual paint.
As to darkening the grain, a little flame treatment goes a long way. The heat will raise the grain some, so be prepared to do some intermittent light sanding with a medium-to-high grit paper, like 180-220. Don't forget to oil your wood, it will make the grain even more striking in appearance as well as protect it.
Cheers!
I understood you need to neutralise the acid by a dip in alkali, to stop the flash rusting, although if you think a wire cup in a drill will not take the paint off I'll try that. TBH its no disaster if it goes wrong, its just a bit of fun to play with it after all.
Just been on youtube...blow torch, gently, to darken the grain, then a lot of coats of blo, seems the way to go.
yes I was unsure if 18"/45 cm would be too large. 16"-18" range seems about right but maybe 16"....decisions decisions.
Just been on youtube...blow torch, gently, to darken the grain, then a lot of coats of blo, seems the way to go.
yes I was unsure if 18"/45 cm would be too large. 16"-18" range seems about right but maybe 16"....decisions decisions.
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Looking forward to seeing the results!
Neil , the epoxy set is another hint of Scandi origin .
Hultafors doesn't list a 700g HB
http://www.hultafors.com/hand-tools/axes/hatchet/
I'd get one of their replacement hafts if you can't find a nice haft .
Hultafors doesn't list a 700g HB
http://www.hultafors.com/hand-tools/axes/hatchet/
I'd get one of their replacement hafts if you can't find a nice haft .
Speaking of hafts , any thots about a 34" haft on my 3 lb Swede head ?
Too long , too short , just right ?
Too long , too short , just right ?
Had the pleasure of meeting Multifaceted Monday, turns out he works 2 minutes from me. For a young guy he sure could teach me a thing or two about axes. I've always said I hang out with old guys, they know lots of stuff. I might have to make an amendment to that practice. I might have mentioned, a couple days ago, I was looking for a flat file and found two more hatchet heads. One is a Plumb carpenters, with a hammer poll and a nail puller under the blade, the other is an old Craftsman, from back when I actually enjoyed owning Craftsman tools. Finding those two hatchets reminded me that some where I have my Fathers, Grandfathers hatchet. It sat on Dad's workbench for as long as I can remember. No haft, and he would use it to tap drift pins or peen brass rivets in leather climbing gear. Now I'll be on a quest to find that one. Clarence, thanks for that growler. I was trying to save it to share with my daughter, but looks like she blew her chance, I'm opening it up today, with or without her. I think I might try a before and after experiment, just have to decide which head, with the Evaporust. I'll take pics as I go, Joe.
Multifaceted
Firewood Hoarder, Axe Enthusiast
Good hanging out, it was nice meeting you as well. Thanks for that rusty older single bit head, and thanks for letting me try out your 660. I'll get to working on your Plumb cruiser soon, until then - enjoy the homebrew!
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